When last we left Alan Shore (James Spader), he was working on a case with Jerry Espenson (Christian Clemenson). Erica (Laura Leighton "Melrose Place") is facing murder charges after she found her ex-girlfriend hanging in her apartment. Erica appears to be the killer. Since she has blackouts, it's entirely possible she does not remember committing the crime.

Alan and Jerry tell her she needs to consider pleading insanity. She agrees, and then suggests they 'hug for luck.' Jerry is clearly reluctant. He has never mastered the social graces of relating to others. However, since Erica is his client, he squeezes her gently without going into a full embrace. Alan, of course, has no trouble.

At trial, Jerry shows how others had a financial motive for the murder. Due to his specialty of estate law, he is in his element. Alan watches over the proceedings just in case, but is pleased to see how far Jerry has come. Jerry mentions he is a 'human polygraph.' He's adept at reading below the surface, and he is sure their client isn't guilty.

Jerry finds the victim's life insurance policy. Although her husband stands to inherit their business, there was an exclusion. Should one of them commit suicide, the policy would be null and void. Alan puts the husband back on the stand and gets him to admit he tried to make his wife's suicide look like murder. The biggest factor in his confession, though, was a potential perjury charge.

Afterwards, both counselors go out on the firm's balcony and celebrate. Jerry bursts into tears and tells Alan he had always wanted this bonding experience during law school. Unfortunately, Denny Crane (William Shatner) spots them and is jealous Alan would be spending time with someone else when they have always discussed the day together. Alan goes to him privately and soothes Denny's ruffled feathers. He promises not to be on any balcony alone with Jerry again.

Part of the reason Denny is unhappy has to do with not getting big cases to work on. Dementia accounts for a good deal, I suspect. Bella Horowitz (Delta Burke in Designing Women) offers to welcome him back into her life. They used to be lovers, but long ago. He is intrigued, but has yet to act.

Shirley Schmidt (Candice Bergen) has more than her share of unhappiness after being kidnapped by Lincoln Meyer (David Dean Bottrell). Suffice it to say nobody would consider him sane. He was pushed over the edge after his neighbor was forced (according to him; I have my doubts on that score) to get a restraining order for being a Peeping Tom. By the time he kidnapped Shirley, he had already seen the firm's attorneys insult his character and get his defamation of character suit thrown out the window. Getting revenge on the firm makes perfect sense, so why not abscond with a founding partner?